Saline parents react to Geltner's suspension

After suspending Superintendent Beverley Geltner while it continues its review into the reinstatement of a freshman football player, the Saline school board heard from residents.

The first two parents to speak supported Geltner. They said she was hired to make tough choices and had made the right ones. They urged the board not to be swayed by the emotion of the moment.

However, the vast majority of the crowd of more than 100 people wanted to see Geltner fired.

"I'm extremly disappointed that once again we have been subjected to revisionist history this morning," said Mike Burchyett, one of the four freshman football coaches to resign. "This started out as a football team matter, but it has revealed a flawed decision-making process at the administrative level."

Geltner sat at the end of the school board's table, taking notes, whispering to her attorney and sitting stone-faced as each person spoke.

The controversy started last week when Geltner announced the reinstatement of the player, who had been kicked off the team for swearing at a coach.